AN
INTERVIEW WITH JOE COSENTINO
author
of An Infatuation, published by Dreamspinner Press
for
the audio book release performed by Brian Cheney
An Infatuation
was released as an e-book and paperback novella in 2015. The audio book just
released. What took so long?
An Infatuation was my first (of thirty-four) book. I was so thrilled when Dreamspinner Press wanted to publish it. The response was phenomenal! Reviewers and readers loved it! I received so many messages from readers telling me that little story made them laugh, cry, feel romantic, and changed their lives in a monumental way. Nearly ten years later people still tell me it is their favorite book, and they continue to beg for an audio book version. The time has come thanks to the amazing talents of actor, opera singer, and audio book narrator Brian Cheney.
For those unfortunates who have not read the novella, tell us about An Infatuation.
The story is
loosely based on my high school years and high school reunions. In the story, it was love at first sight for Harold while tutoring
football star Mario, until homophobia and bullying drove Mario deep into the
closet. Now they’re both married men. Mario, a model, is miserable with his
producer wife, while Harold, a teacher, is perfectly content with his
businessman husband, Stuart. When the two meet again at their ten-year high
school reunion, the old flame reignites. Harold faces this seemingly impossible
situation with inimitable wit, tenderness, and humor as he attempts to
reconcile the past and the future. I am proud to report An
Infatuation won the Divine Magazine Readers’ Favorite Award for 2nd
Place for Best MM Romance, and I won 2nd Place for Best MM Author!
What inspired you to write An
Infatuation?
You have worked with audio book performer Brian Cheney before.
Yes,
Brian performed the audio books of my last eight Nicky and Noah mystery novels.
He is an incredibly versatile, talented, and unique performer. Brian totally
connects with my sense of humor and pathos. He perfectly brings each character
in this story to vivid life.
What inspired you to start writing?
When
I told my mother I wanted to be an actor, she said, “Take this knife and stick
it through my heart.” I did it anyway, and acted on stage and screen with stars
like Bruce Willis, Rosie O’Donnell, Holland Taylor, Jason Robards, and Nathan
Lane. You can see me on You Tube in the ABC-TV movie, My Mother Was Never a
Kid, about a third of the way through. As my students said, “You were cute
when you were young!” Anyway, it occurred to me that acting is storytelling in
the same way that writing is storytelling, so I decided to give playwriting a
try. When I told my mother I wanted to write fiction, she said, “Don’t you have
anything better to do than write books?” I wonder if Stephen King’s mother said
that? I adapted my An Infatuation hit one-act play to a novella. I wanted
my first novella to be somewhat autobiographical, but also have a universal
theme. Hasn’t everyone been infatuated with someone? Think about your first
infatuation and young love. It never leaves you. There’s nothing more powerful.
Who is your favorite character in An Infatuation?
Harold is based on me, so it’s a
no-brainer! I admire Harold’s resilience, honesty, intelligence, wit, and
ability to keep going in trying situations. His heart may be broken, but his
spirit always stays intact. Harold’s devotion to his spouse, Stuart, is
admirable, as is his honesty about his teenage infatuation with Mario. I love
that the story spans twenty years, so we see Harold (and Mario) develop and
mature.
Which one of your characters was the hardest one to write? And why?
It is always hard for me to write
homophobic characters. How nonsensical is it for someone to spend his/her time,
money, and energy trying to hurt, belittle, or take away the rights of someone
else? In most cases, the homophobic person is gay him/herself, and due to
internalized homophobia, is battling with him/herself via the gay target. That
is the case with the two homophobic characters in my novella.
Which one of your characters did you enjoy writing the most?
Harold’s husband Stuart was great
fun to write, because he is based on my spouse who is totally organized and a
real list maker, but also sweet, creative, and caring. He creates an itinerary
for our trips in ten-minute time blocks!
Is Mario based on anyone?
Mario is a combination of a few
people I’ve known. I love that Harold (and Mario) develop and mature in their
special relationship. I also love that Harold and Mario come full circle at
their high school reunion.
Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp?
I love the
anti-bullying message in the novella. I also think a theme is that it’s okay to
fantasize about someone.
After reading your novella, I found the humor to be perfectly hysterical, and the story to be deeply personal and moving. What tips would you give other writers, when creating comedy in their own writing?
When a reader finishes a book, they
should be satisfied that the various parts equaled the whole, rather than the
author pulling an ending out of the hat. I recommend not writing jokes to try
to be funny. Let the humor come out of the situations and the characters
naturally. People are funny, but only in real life, believable situations. And
don’t forget the yang side of comedy is tragedy. So find the emotional core of
your characters and story. As the old expression goes, “Make ‘em laugh then
make ‘em cry.”
What would you like to say to your readers?
I know this story will touch your
heart, because it’s everyone’s story. We’ve all had an infatuation, and this
novel is a testament to that. Make sure you have a good block of free time
before beginning it. Once you start, you will be reading until you finish. Prop
your feet up, and enjoy!
Now that the audio book has been released, what’s next for An Infatuation?
I’ve written a screenplay. So film
producers, make me an offer!
How can audio book fans purchase An Infatuation?
The
purchase links are below. And I love to hear from readers. Please contact me
via my web site.
AN INFATUATION
by Joe
Cosentino
the first In
My Heart novella published by Dreamspinner Press
Language:
English
Genre:
MM romance, humor, lost love
Length:
106 pages, 4 hours
Released
date: February 6, 2015 & June 17, 2024
Cover
Artist: Christy Caughie
Heat
Level: 2
With his
ten-year high school reunion approaching, Harold wonders whether Mario will be
as muscular, sexy, and tantalizing as he remembers. As a teenager, it was love
at first sight for Harold while tutoring football star Mario, until homophobia
and bullying drove Mario deep into the closet. Now they’re both married men.
Mario, a model, is miserable with his producer wife, while Harold, a teacher,
is perfectly content with his businessman husband, Stuart. When the two
meet again, will the old flame reignite, setting Harold’s comfortable life
ablaze? How can Harold be happy with Stuart when he is still infatuated with
his Adonis, his first love, Mario? Harold faces this seemingly impossible
situation with inimitable wit, tenderness, and humor as he attempts to
reconcile the past and the future.
https://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/books/an-infatuation-by-joe-cosentino-4804-b
http://myBook.to/AnInfatuation
and the Audio Book
performed by Brian Cheney:
https://www.audible.com/pd/An-Infatuation-Audiobook/B0D6WKW1TX?qid=1718668304&sr=1-1&ref_pageloadid=not_applicable&ref=a_search_c3_lProduct_1_1&pf_rd_p=83218cca-c308-412f-bfcf-90198b687a2f&pf_rd_r=3128JE15QK365VW3S4TD&pageLoadId=03rBorT0nZy0cmE5&creativeId=0d6f6720-f41c-457e-a42b-8c8dceb62f2c
“Joe
Cosentino proves there’s more than one way to a happy ending in An
Infatuation, a story of first love and heartbreak delivered in a fresh and
funny voice.”
The
Novel Approach
“It’s unusual for me to get sucked
into a book in the first chapter but it grabbed me early and I read the whole
thing in one day”.
Nautical
Star Books
“I recommend
this book to anyone reminiscing about that one that got away.”
LoveBytes
Reviews
About the Author:
Joe
Cosentino was voted Favorite MM Mystery, Humorous, and Contemporary Author of
the Year and Second Place Favorite MM Romance Author of the Year by the readers
of Divine Magazine. His Dreamspinner Press titles are the In My Heart
Anthology: An Infatuation & A Shooting Star, the Tales from
Fairyland Anthology: The Naked Prince and Other Tales from Fairyland
& Holiday Tales from Fairyland, the Bobby and Paolo Holiday
Stories Anthology: A Home for the Holidays & The Perfect Gift &
The First Noel, the Found At Last Anthology: Finding Giorgio &
Finding Armando, and the two Player Piano mysteries. He is also the
author of the 18 Nicky and Noah mysteries, 5 Jana Lane mysteries (The Wild Rose
Press), and 5 Cozzi Cove novels (Ninestar Press). His books have won numerous
Book of the Month awards and Rainbow Award Honorable Mentions. As an actor, Joe
appeared in principal roles in film, television, and theatre, opposite stars
such as Bruce Willis, Rosie O’Donnell, Nathan Lane, Jason Robards, and Holland
Taylor. He received his Master of Fine Arts degree from Goddard College,
Master’s degree from SUNY New Paltz, and is a happily married emeritus theatre
professor residing in New York State.
Web
site: https://joecosentino.weebly.com/
Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/JoeCosentinoauthor
Twitter:
https://twitter.com/JoeCosen
Goodreads:
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4071647.Joe_Cosentino
Amazon:
Author.to/JoeCosentino
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joecosentinoauthor
Brian
Cheney, hailed by KUSC Los Angeles as the “next great tenor”, protégé of
legendary tenor Jerry Hadley, has gained international acclaim for his
portrayal of characters such as Radamés in Aida, Don José in Carmen,
Mario Cavaradossi in Tosca, Rodolfo in La bohème, the Duke in Rigoletto,
and Canio in Pagliacci. “It is tenor Brian Cheney as the brave painter
Cavaradossi who really blew me away. Cheney has that terrific tenor sound: the
power, richness, and vocal color of a high baritone combined with ringing,
awe-inspiring high notes” (Stage and Cinema.) Highlights from last
season include Mr. Cheney’s creation of the role of Victor Frankenstein in the
world premiere performance of Gregg Kallor’s Frankenstein in New
York to critical acclaim and his National Philharmonic debut as the tenor
soloist in Leonard Bernstein’s Mass and West Side Story.
“Cheney’s ringing tenor voice carried well in the stone catacombs, conveying
the fear that the deep bass sound of the monster summoned. And as the section
of the sketches went on, Cheney’s voice bloomed to match the action and threats
of the creature.” (Operawire) Recent engagements include Radamés in
Aida with Virginia Opera, Antonin Scalia in Derrick Wang’s Scalia/Ginsburg
with Toledo Opera, and Salute to Vienna performances in Miami, West Palm Beach,
Nashville, and New York City (Lincoln Center). In audio books, Mr. Cheney
performed eight Nicky and Noah Mystery novels, All the King’s Men by
Scott Leddy, Swarm by Guy Morris, The Last Ark by Guy Morris, and
Pressure by Barry Napier. www.briancheneytenor.com
